Authorizer



Sept 5, 1950 J. l.. cLoUGH 2,521,284

AUTHORIZER Filed Jan. 25, 1943 A 7 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Sept 5, 1950 J. L. cLoUGH l 2,521,284

AUTHORIZER Filed Jan. 25, 194s fr sheets-sheet 2 mvENToR D uxawwfz.(3qamad J. L. CLOUGH AUTHORIZER spfw s, 195o 7 7 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 25, 1945 lNvENToR JEeo/vf. Cada/9H BY M,

Mx M ATToRNEY.

J. l.. cLoUGH AUTHORIZER Sept. 5, 195o '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 25, 1945 INVENTOR MTO/75 C4006# BY M MLM.

/ ATTORNEY- OOOOOO OOOOOOO @fllign/2 J. 1 CLOUGH Sept'. 5, 1950 AUTHORIZER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1943 im ATTO R N EY5 A n/EEo/wf 4 64006,; BY 4, M

I i@ z5 5K2 500 INVENToR Iillzs B27-gg KMO 5/2 @j 'JOHN DOE Sept- 5, 1950 J. l.. cLoUGH 2,521,284

AUTHORIZER Filed Jan. 25, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR JEKQ/vf Croc/GH ATTORN EYQ J. L. CLOUGH Sept. 5, 1950 AUTHORIZER Filed Jan. 25, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR -J5E0/w5, C4006# BY M/ MMM 'I ATTRNEY.

ALRVBLTEn ABCDLLLMM AAAAAHAAAA Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATE S` PAT E NT O F FICE AUTHORIZER Jerome L. iClougli, Milwaukee, Wis. Applieationlanuary 1943, Serial No. 473.5208.

(-Cl. Ltn-,53)

24 Claims.

This invention relatesv to improvements in authorizers.

It. is the primary. object of` the invention to provide novel power diven means automatically operable subject to the control of. an indexing selector for enabling a credit operator to determine in thel shortest possible space of time the credit rating of. an applicant for credit. The machine has particular utility in department stores, where persons desiring to, use their charge accounts frequently have to wait while, the clerk consults the credit department. It is urgently necessary to locate the cust-omers name and credit rating" as rapidly' asV possible inorder not to keep the customer Waiting for an undue length oftime.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a compensating drive for reels between which thev name belt is wound` and unwound, it being desirable thatthe winding and unwindingreels should be operated at differing rates compensatory-for thevariation ineffective diameter thereof' sol that. the name belt willi be unwound' from one reel;Y at substantially thesame rate of' linear travel, at which it: is wound. upon the other.

It is a further' object of` the invention topravide a novel and; improved namev belt for use; in authorizer machines to facilitate the insertion of new' names` and the removal of obsolete names from thebelt; and to provide an` authorizer machine; which will accommodate changes in. the length of the-namebelt within the limits required forv thisk purpose, without destroying the relation between the-belt and thereel operating mechanism aforesaid.

It isv a furtherY object of the invention. to D170- videA a novel and improved organization for an authorizer machine inY which ank effective keyboard` providesf for automatic selection. and?, the keyboard andk thename belt are in a desired relationship to the operators station. and have a desiredy relationship t o eachother so that a relatively small number of keys on the keyboard' will serve to bring a, given name to the inspecting station even though the number of' names greatly exceeds the number of available keys.

It is a still further object of.` the invention to provide for the useV of lm in an authorizer machine. v

O therfobjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art upon analysis of the following disclosure thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a view in side elevation ofS an aut'horizer1 embodyingA the invention as it" appears with one side ofl thecabnetremoved to, expose Fig.` 5` is a further enlargedy detail view of a` fragment ofthe keyboard in` longitudinal section.'

'Fig'. 6 is a detailview of ga fragment-of the key? board in transverse section.

Fig. 7, isa fragmentary detail view of, thekeyboard in side elevationas it appears withv the cabinet removed to expose the structure.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation and`A partially in section, showing the elec-` trical control commutator and.v its driving connections,

Fig. 9- is a viewv taken in section through/the control commutator onthe line 9 -9` of Fig.` 8 on a further enlarged scale.

Fig; 10 isa further enlarged fragmentary detail of the comm-utator` taken inl section in the' plane inwhich it rotates. i

Fig. 1'1 isl a fragmentary detail of the brus holder as it appears in plan.

Fig; 12 is' a plan Viewy of a fragment of the brush holder.

Fig. 13 isa wiring diagram diagrammaticall illustrating the wiring connection of a single push button to-.a singlezbrush of theelectric con-v trol device.

Fig'. 14is an enlarged detail view in front eleA vation ofl a fragment` of the name belt showing the signals preferably used therewith.

Fig. 15 is a further enlargeddetail view in plan of" one of the metal stamps used' inthe construction of such a belt.

Fig. 16' is a fragmentarydetail view of the stamping formed and connected to a name stri for-use.

Fig. 17Y is a. fragmentary detail view of the assembled name belt in side elevation.

Fig. 18' is a fragmentaryv detail view taken in section. on the line lli- I8 ofv Fig. 14.

Fig. 19 is a detail' view in side elevationof a modified form of name strip.

Fig. 20 shows in elevation another modified embodiment of name strip belt section.

Fig. 21 is a detail View in transverse section illustrating a fragment of the belt section shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22v is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a portion of the machine with the name belt disassembled for the insertion or removal of a name strip.

Fig. 23 is a View in transverse section through one of the reels upon which the name belt is wound, the reel being shown enlarged as compared with Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 (Sheet l) shows a fragmentary detail view in plan through the high and low speed control mechanism.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a latch used in conjunction with the mechanism shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a wiring diagram showing the relay motor clutch and brake connections for the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 25.

Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal vertical section showing -a modied embodiment of the invention.

Fi-g. 28 is a fragmentary detail view of a film used as a name belt in the device of Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary detail in plan of a portion of the index used in Fig. 27. l

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary detail in transverse section through thek electric commutator mechanism shown in Fig. 27.

Fig. 31 is a View in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 27.

Fig. 32 is a wiring diagram of the connections used for the control land operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 27.

Like parts are identied by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The authorizer comprises a cabinet designated by reference character 35 in Fig. 1 and 35 in Fig. 27. This cabinet has an index table 31 and 38 respectively and a display station represented by the lwindow 39 in Fig. 1 and the translucent screen 40 in Fig. 27,

At the display station the machine selectively displays one or more names and credit ratings carried by a name belt which comprises the sectional belt 42 in the device shown in Fig. 1 and the iilm 4'3 in the device shown in Fig. 27. In each instance the name belt is wound from one reel to another subject to the control of electrical selecting mechanism as will now be described.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 26 inclusive:

The name belt is made of separable sections. In the preferred construction each name is typed or otherwise impressed upon a strip of cardboard 44 provided at each end with a metal tting 45 in accordance with the disclosure of Figs. 14, 15 and 16. Fig. 15 shows the blank from which the metal fitting `45 is folded. The blank is so made that the iitting is folded into a channel 46 engaged with the end of the cardboard and retained thereon by two prongs i4l and 48 which are integral with the tting. A pair of arms 49 of like form are brought into registry by the folding of the blank to constitute a hook. The hook of each tting 45 passes between the arms of the next contiguous fitting into engagement with the channel portion thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 14 and I6. The result is la belt which is flexible as indicated in Fig. 17 in a direction such as to enable it to be wound upon the reels hereinafter to be described. It is also flexible in a transverse plane due to the exibility of the strips of cardboard or other material shown at 4`4 from which the names are imprinted. This latter exibility enables the belt to be manipulated for the insertion and removal of name strips, for which purpose the belt, stopped at any desired point, may be Withdrawn 4 l through the window 39 (Fig. 22) and opened as shown. Small transparent slides having different symbolic meaning according to their color and/or position may be located on the individual name strips by slidably interlocking them between the name strips as shown at 50 in Figs. 14, 18 and 19.

Fig. 19 represents a modification in which the name strip 440 has a margin notched at `5l and credit indicia printed onthe name strip opposite each notch, the slide 500 having an inwardly pressed rib at 52 frictionally engageable in the successive notches to assure its position.

A slightly modied form of name strip is illustrated in Fig. 2O (Sheet 2) in which the belt is made up of sheet sections each continuous from side to side of the belt and each provided with diagonal slots at 54 and with the tabs 55 for interlocking connection with the slots of like sections. Fig. 20 shows two such sections in connection. In this embodiment each separable section of the belt is made to detachably receive a number of name strips 44| inserted in suitable pockets provided .along the edges of the respective sections by laminae applied to the ends of the sections as shown.

Regardless of how the name belt is constructed, it passes between reels 59 and 6U (Fig. 1) about sprocket pulley 6|, idler pulley 62, and take-up pulley 63. The teeth of the sprocket pulley 6l mesh in the apertures provided at 64 in the fittings 45 shown in Fig. 14 and the apertures 64I) provided in the belt sections shown in Fig. 20. It is desirable that the sprocket pulley 6I move in exact accordance with the belt because this pulley serves to correlate belt movement with the movement of the electrical control parts.

Take-up pulley 63 is mounted on a carriage 65 movable in a generally vertical direction in a guideway 66 whereby the weight of the carriage and the take-up pulley 63 keep the belt 42 taut and allord suicient compensation to permit of day to day changes in the length of the belt occasioned by the insertion of additional names and the removal of other names. In the normal department store practice the change in belt length will be nominal over-la long period of time.

For the purposes of the type of belt here shown, the respective reels 59 and 60 may comprise simply disks 6l and 68 mounted on a hub 69 supported by suitable bearings from the stationary stud 10 projecting from a Wall of the cabinet 35 (see Fig. 23). Connected with the hub to turn therewith is the secondary reel l2 and sprocket 13. A tape or tension belt l5 is wound upon the secondary reels l2 of the respective main reels 59 and 6U to connect the main reels and to unwind from one of such reels and wind upon the other in the same ratio as the name belt is wound and unwound respecting such reels. In other words, there are the same number of turns of the tape upon a given secondary reel 12 as there are turns of the name belt upon the main reel connected therewith. Since the tape-is preferably a steel tape having only approximately half the thickness of the ttings which make up the name belt, the secondary reel l2 will have half the diameter in order to maintain the desired ratio so that the effective diameter of the secondary reel will in each instance change in the same ratio to the thicknesses of the respective belts as the effective diameter of the main reel connected therewith. Thus the linear travel of the tape and the name belt to or from a given reel assembly-willbe alikey at all-vV speeds,- o; reel; rota,-

tion;

Itis not; necessary that the tape runi; directly from: onereel` tox the other,` 'and in; they constructiomhereindiscloseditv does; not do so.. Asclear l'yf appears in Fig. 3, the tape 'lifpasses fromithe lowerv reel assembly to anfidler pulley' Tk from. which; itextends downwardlyA andi about a drivingy pulley 'Ifrand thence upwardly past. another idler; 'IB'to the secondaryreel IZl of theupper:

reel: assembly.

It will be apparent that the tapev will serve to4 lim'trthe tension. on the namebelt; This:y belt or webcan be virtually floated; fromv ones reeli` tot another because all; motion. transmissiomb etween-v thetwo reelsfis eiiected by the tape'l'.v

In. order to permit off motionr transmission irrboth directions and to. complete. the; connection between'the, reel assemblies to assure thatneither will overrun and that each will be positively driven, thereis a second connection between the. reel assemblies opposediirrv tension; to, the, tension of the tape l5. This; is provid'edfby the chain. till.I whichoperates around: the respective sprockets 153;. Since the chain and: sprocketcon-v n'ection:l does not. provideconmensation.A forchanges in rate of reell rotationduertd changes in. effective diameter as: the name. belttI and-the tape arerespectivel'y woundzand unwound there-- from, itis necessary toy providetake-up:v at twlo points in the length of the chain 8d.. In practice.

it is'. preferred that: chain: im; be an.- endless chain.

Ity is; guided about the idlers 8.15, S2, 83, 8,5 and .861' in one of its runs betweeny the sprockets T3:

andfabout the idlers: 8l', 831 andL lfin the other of its runs` between such. sprockets. Idleril" and' idler; 'i9 are coaxial andi may be connected.

Idler 88.' subjects the chain totstrongbias; This.

`may bel done lby mounting4 idler 38 upon a. heavy counterweight' Sd guided by a lever 91E. pivoted to the cabinet at 92. The action oit gravity is .augmentedl byy connection ofthe counterweight through aV cable S3: to a biasing spring 94 which is` connected; to the idler 85.. The cable provides: a connection between the=big-1fits ot' the chainr whiehf pass about, sprocketsY 38 and 851 respectively. In the operation of the deviceitwill` be found-that with all ofl the namev belt: on' one. reel or* theother, the: sprocket 8.8 will be atits. most' extended position, rthis being;v the lowest positionr i of the weight as showny in= Fig; 3 Conversely, the sprocket 33.5 .will'be in. its least extended position (the upward position iitwhichsuchvsprocket isi illustrated in Fig.' 3). As the belt; windssonto,

the empty reel frontithe full reel, the sprocket. 83' will .be drawn upwardly toward an intermediate.

point and will f then: move kdownwardly 1' again'r so` that when the namefbelt hasvfully passed from one reel-to the other both sprockets: will be re.- stored substantially'to their original positions. Since the sprocket 85 will move downwardly at. substantial-ly the sam-e:r rate at which sprocket 88. movesupwardly, the cablets provides amow able anchorage for spring S4 with the result-that particul'ar; instance the electric conmnutatorv mechanismhappens tobe driven from the name,y

atany point, I- have already indicated that in.V

the present device it is applied through the friction surface pulley latothe tape l5; The power so applied is derived from motor 95 through belt 9.5' which drives a pulley Si; (Figs. 1 and 24) on shaft@ 98;. This shaft carries clutchdisks 9 ,9- and. |110 between which a driven element comprising pulleys IM and H12 is: axially shiftable toengage; with the*k clutch: disks 99; IUD' complementaryI disks, i163 and H14 carried by the respective pulleys, A shifting lever 05 for shifting the drivenclutch set so that either pulley till or H12 may becdrivenfrom shaft 98; is arranged to be operated by rsolenoid [06 (preferably provided with a dashpot lill). They armature m8' of solenoid lflf preferablyy carries a latch 09 which, in the inward movement of the armature, is caughtby a detent l S''subject to 'release by a manually controlled Bowden wire H i, as will' hereinafter be explained: The inward movement of' the armature which is thus arrested: by the detent, is the movement which clutches pulley 1.0:! to shaft 98., this being-the lowspeed pulley.

The respective low speed and: high speed pulleysv lil-ii and [Stare belt connected with complementary pulleys. on the shaft H5 of a speed reducer H6 through. which the driving pulley t8..

is actuated' to operate t-he'reelr assemblies as above described.

I provide at E18-a brake for shaftv 98'. which is self-applying and electromagnetically released?. As shown in Fig. 1, the brake lfi'may comprise a brake disk H80 xed onk the end of shaft SIB".

Co-.acting therewith through theintervening lin-- stationary disk l'l--Z With. they brake lining HM to arrest the movementl of shaft 93, Whenever the motors which actuate the respective: reels arek energized, however, the brake is released electromagnetical'ly by the energizationv ofV the solenoid Ha, the armature i ld of which is'connected to: the lever lf 188:. lThe link lifpivoted to such lever extends into the brake housing andY the forward and reverse direction of operation of the, motor 95., the high and low speed positions' of the driving clutches, and the functioning ot the brake. `See the wiring diagram in Fig. 26.. The relays enable me to use low voltage in my electrical control and indexing system as now to be described.

As will beI observed in Figs. 1 and 22, the keyboard 31 projects from the front of the cabinet at aconvenent point to be immediately above the operators` lap when theoperator sits directlybefore the display station Froyision is madey onthe table 3l for' the interchangeable mountingI of a seri-esci index strips,r #2*5 opposite push buttons tildes indicated invFig. e and Fig.l 5. Ball detentsj |;2fl suitably located. inthe guido slots in which strips |25 are received, yieldably hold such strips in accurate relation to their respective push buttons. While any desired switches may be controlled by the respective push buttons |26, I have illustrated in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 jack type switches at |30 closed by the depression of the respective buttons.

A camming member |32 movable between the full and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 7, is provided for each row of push buttons and the several camming members are operable by arms |33 on a, rock shaft |34 subject to the control of a hand lever |35 for clearing the keyboard, the arrangement obviously being adapted to elevate any key which has been depressed to close a switch.

It vmay be stated here that the keyboard described is merely shown by way of illustration and is a simplified form of keyboard which, in actual practice, may preferably be replacedby any self-clearing keyboard such as is used in a calculator machine. The arrangement herein disclosed, while operable, is speciiically undesirable in that it is possible to cause short circuits by depressing more than one key simultaneously.

From the rock shaft |35 another arm |36 connects to the Bowden wire as shown in Fig. l, for the release of the detent shown and described in connection with Fig. 25. The detent which holds the low speed clutch in engagement is not essential but, in case it is used, the Bowden wire connection will provide for its release when the keyboard is cleared preliminary to another selecting operation.

Driven from the sprocket wheel 6| over which the name belt 42 operates, is the commutator mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 8, 9, 13 and 26. The sprocket 6| is mounted on a shaft |38 which carries a worm gear |39 meshing with a worm |40 on shaft I4|. This shaft in turn carries another worm gear |42 meshing with worm |43 for driving shaft |44. On shaft |44 is a commutator disk |45 which is dielectric, or at least provides dielectric support for commutator segments |46, |41, |48 and |49. The insulating blocks |50 are relatively narrow as compared wtih the insulating block Segments |46 and |49 are high speed segments for opposite directions of motor operation, and segments |41 and |48 are low speed segments in the respective directions of motor operation. The connections hereinafter described are such that when a brush passes from segment |46 to |41 the motor continues in operation, but when the brush registers with segment |5| the power to the motor is out olf and the brake applied.

A stationary dielectric arcuate terminal |55 surrounds the disk |45 and carries a series of brushes |56 which are spring biased toward the commutator disk. A separate brush is provided for each button or key |26 of the keyboard. Fig. 13 shows the wiring connections from a single key to a single brush, and also shows the relation of the terminal head to the commutator disk and its respective segments. The preferred dispositon of the brushes |56 to provide space for their respective terminals |51 is clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Fig. 26 diagrammatically illustrates the wiring diagram. It will be seen that the motor 95, the brake magnet I8, and the clutch magnet |06, are supplied with full line voltage. The several switches |30 controlled by the push buttons |26 of the keyboard are supplied with low voltage by a transformer |58. Thus the brushes and the commutator segments also operate at low voltage' to control the windings of the several relays I9, |20.' |2| and |22. Without describing the Wiring'system in detail (its analysis will be easy to anyone skilled in the art) suilice it to say that when any one of the brushes is energized by the closing o1' the corresponding switch |30 when a button of the keyboard is depressed, the energization 'of such brush will energize one of the several relays H9, |20, |2| or |22, depending upon what segment of the commutator such brush contacts at the time. If it be assumed that segment |46 is the high speed segment for clockwise motor rotation, the relay ||9 will close the necessary circuits to the motor windings to assure such rotation at high speed. Such rotation must necessarily propel the name belt through the apparatus in a, direction such that the corresponding rotation communicated through the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 to the commutator disk, will turn that disk in a direction to move the insulating segment |5| toward the energized brush.

As the dead segment |5| approaches the energized brush, the brush will rst pass from livek segment |46 to live segment |41. 'Ihe relay |20 will not become koperative to continue the motor in operation and to energize the clutch throwing solenoid |06 whereby the drive will continue in slow speed until the dead segment |5| registers with the energized brush, whereupon the motor will come to rest.

If the brush energized had been in registry with live segment |49, the name belt and all driven parts would have been operated in an opposite direction at high speed through the energization of the relay |22. Relay |2| would then have been energized to slow down the speed of the name belt and associated parts, and finally registry of the dead segment |5| with the energized brush would have allowed the apparatus to come to rest.

If an energized brush happened to be one registering with one of the slow speed segments, rather than one of the high speed segments, the high speed relays would have been inactive and the operation would have proceeded in the proper direction at low speed.

The driving connections shown through the several relays are preferably such (as illustrated) that when any relay is energizing the motor in one direction the circuits to the relays for operating it in an opposite direction are open.

There are important advantages in the alternativey type of electric selector used' in the con tions used and regardless of the type of name belt v employed. Because Fig. 27 happens to illustrate a special type of name belt and a special type of electrical selecting mechanism and a different type of driving connections, it is not to be assumed that these three features are essentially correlated, as any one of them may be interchanged with a corresponding feature illustrated in Fig. 1.

The name belt 43 in Fig. 28 comprises a, nlm of the type used for motion picture projection on which appears the names at |60 followed by a code number or symbol |5|. When this lm is fed through a projector |62 provided with a lens |63 and a projection lamp |=64 an enlarged image of the lm, preferably showing a considerable sequence of names and credit symbols, will be .previously described. mechanism is greatly simplified. I provide .at |1555 asoma/1 'projected onto the viewing screen :4D at the vinspection station.

The rllm is `wound upon reels 591| and 600, each corresponding in xfunction to reels 59 and Se carrying the name belt in the Fig. 1 construction. However, in this device the reels are lmuch smaller since they are only obliged to carry movie film rather than `the relatively heavy name belt `Morever, the .operating a motor having its shaft connected 'with reel 530 and arranged rto rotate such reel in a winding direction. At |66 I provide a motor having its armature shaft connected with reel (its and adapted to rotate that reel in .a winding direction. Brakes at 61 are self-applying lto each .armature shaft whenever 'the motors are `cle-energized. Energization ofthe respective motors releases .both brakes.

.Moreover, fI may so .connect 'the respective motors that each will-act as adragupon the other 'to maintain the lm under tension. To some eX- tent the motor `will do this even without any such provision. However, in the arrangement shown 'in the wiring diagram in Fig. 32, the hook-up is such that when either motor is .primarily energized to turn its respective reel the other motor :will be energized also but to a lesser degree through one of the resistances |68 so that the tendency of the partially energized motor to turn its own reel will vmaintain tension on the iilm being unwound therefrom against the pull of the partially energized motor.

Power is taken from one of the sprockets HB9 yof 'the motion picture projector to drive a shaft |10 which communicates motion to the cornmutator disk |1|. This disk, instead of having segments on its periphery, has high speed for- -Ward and reversing segments |12 and |13 and Alow speed forward and reversing segments .and |15 on its face, near its periphery. Between 438. On the face of the table is van index. |88 as best shown .in Fig. 29. The -handle may, if desired, be provided with a magnifying glass |89 traversing the index to yfacilitate the reading thereof.

The low speed segment |14 isconnected to the high speed segment of corresponding direction |12 through a resistance. Low speed segment |15 is similarly connected to the high speed segment |13 of corresponding direction through a resistance. The resistances are sufficient to greatly reduce motor speeds when the brush |8| .registers with the low speed segment, but the -resistances used at this point should preferably have sufficient power so that themotor kprmarily energized will be able to overcome `the weaker energization of the opposite motor `for the sole purpose of maintaining the iilm .under tension One advantage of this `arrangement over the electrical selection mechanism disclosed inconnection with the device of Fig. 1, lies in the great reduction in wiring. Another .advantage may not, at first, be apparent. If the control lever |86 is moved for a substantial distance over the index .the operating mechanism lwill at once .be thrown into operation to propel the name belt 'toward lthe jlpoint represented 4by `the selection lever. .As that point isapproached ithe'ibrush will; -as in the roriginally described device, 4runoff :of the vhigh speed segment `onto the low speediseg- :ment yand the operating ymechanism will slow downk themovement of 'the name belt. Preier ably, the rate oi low speedroperation will be ,sumloiently `low so :that the :names and authorized credit symbols can tbe read as the images move .across v'the screen. It isnot necessary "that every 4.word be .legible as long aas .some portion of some :names rcan lbe read. '.However, it 'is .possible to operate the :belt Lata speed such that .every1-name .can be read `if desired.

'The :point Vis vthat instead of operating .t0- ward :a fixed `point as represented 4by .thefdepressed button `of the selecting device'rst adesCribed, the present Ydevice Ycan v'be voperated towardaimoving point representedby the lever ,4185 :and .the handle 11.8.6, these being subiectfto :continuous movement :manually .by -the rhperator. Thus, .if ythe handle :is .slowly moved over the index, at approximately Athe -same rate :at which .the rllrn. y'or name strip advances through `.the machine, the result will be to keep .the-machine in continuous -s-low fspeed.- operation fromfone. end ato the other, .or as far as may be desired. This greatly assists Jin' finding a particular. nameor .rin

reading a particular sequence of lnamesfrorn a.the name belt. Itis affmarkedly diierent .mode of operation from y,anything possible with the type of selector previously disclosed.

En -both vof the .devices herein disclosed itheinn gspection rstation preferably has a suicient .ex-

tent .with ,reference -to fthe names exposed in, any :given position of the name belt so that lagoonssiderable vsequenceof such names .and the :authorizing symbols associated therewith `will be visible at one glance. This makes itpossib-le v4for the lindexingmechanism vto Aoperate to .bring -in a 'particular name somewhere within the `rangefoi' the inspecting ystation even through there :may :be .farfewer names on the index than V.on `the belt. .For example, .if the belt displays. .for-,ty names at the inspecting station and the-index has one-ortieth as many I'names as appear .on the belt, then ,an unskilled operator .must infallibly bring the desired name -into 'viewfby manipulating theindex to the nearest point. A skilled .operator can voppor-tion `the Aspace ...between lindex .symbols through the .fuse vof an innitely variablelever-such as thatf'shown in.'Fig. 27 .and (can ,do -much better. A vskilled. -operator lfwould not need to have more than:onesindexwmarkato everyxtwothundredhames on the belt .inforder to vbringzzinwith certainty -aparticular name. .The `possibility of making such apportionment .again .depends upon the use 'of anfiniinitely variable mechanism is ,also interchangeable, .as .is .the

compensating device of Fig. 1 or the .retarder y suggested inFigs. 27 l-to .32; The various ffeatures `shown rare illustrative of the .possibilities `land they may be associated in any desired manner.

I claim: 1. An authorizer comprising a flexible belt yin cluding name strips each adapted to displaya "name, and an authorizer symbol adjustable transn versely of the belt and spanning a particular name strip, said symbol having terminal means engaged marginally about said strip and in a position also to span portions of a name carried thereby and adjustable from point to point over said name.

2. In an authorizer, a name belt operable over pulleys and reels and comprising a exible belt made up of separable sections, each of said sections comprising a narrow strip ilexible throughout its length and provided at its end with inter- L locking means for connecting it to like strips, said 1 interlocking means being engageable and disengageable with the interlocking means of like strips upon flexing one of said strips respecting another, certain individual sections comprising single line strips bearing individual names.

3. In a device of the character described, a

flexible name belt operable over pulleys and reels and comprising separable sections each provided with interlocking means engageable with an ad- .'jacent section and each interlocking means being i providedwith an opening adapted to receive the interlocking means of an adjacent section, each such section being flexible whereby to permit of ythe manipulation of its interlocking means into the opening of the adjacent section, certain of said sections being provided with authorization indicating means slidable thereon.

4. In a device of the character described, a flexible name belt comprising a series of separable belt sections in interlocking connection, and each such section comprising at least one flexible name strip having an elongated exposed name-receiving area of substantially rectangular form and connected therewith and having exposed marginal portions adapted to provide reciprocable support -for an authorizing slide.

'5. In a device of the character described, a

4name belt comprising separable belt sections each co-extensive in width with the belt and each pro- -vided at the sides of the belt with receptacles for the 4ends of a name strip; together with a flexible name strip having its ends engaged in the respective receptacles and detachably connected thereby with a section of said belt. 6. A name belt comprising a series of transverse name-bearing strips, and like fittings at the opposite ends thereof, each such tting comprising a 7.-In a device of the character described, a

name belt comprising a series. of separable supports including individual name strips, means connecting said supports at the sides of the belt between which-said strips extend, and authorizer l slides associated with individual strips and movable thereon transversely of the belt.

' 8. In a device of the character described, a name belt comprising a flexible strip adapted to receive a name and a link belt iitting at one end thereof comprising a channel in which the end of -the strip is engaged, and hook-like extensions from the sides of the channel together constituting a hook for engagement in the channel of a like fitting.

9. In a device of the character described, a

ifbeltlink comprising a channel having side flanges Avand a top web, arms extending outwardly from said flanges beyond said web and reversely curved and brought together to constitute a hook receivable between the arms and beneath the web 12 of a like tting for'interlocking connection therewith.

10. In an authorizer, the combination with a display cabinet having a display opening, rof a name belt within the cabinet, means for supporting and guiding the name belt for movement past said opening, and means for actuating thename belt to bring a selected name into registry with said opening, the name belt comprising separable sections smaller in all dimensions than the opening and accessible through said opening for the addition or removal of sections, each suchsection being ilexible and elongated transversely of the belt and having a name directly imprinted upon it transversely of the belt, the respective sections being provided adjacent their ends with detachable connecting means including lingers and apertures extending longitudinally ofthe section and transversely of the belt and engageable and disengageable upon the exing of one of said sections intermediate its ends.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a, pair of reels and a record conveyor Wound thereon, of a motor connected with each of said reels for propelling it in a conveyor winding direction, a control member, a member connected with said conveyor to partake of the motion thereof, and motor controlling means comprising brush and commutator elements connected with respective members for relative movement according to the movement either of said control member or said second member, said commutator comprising spaced contacts between which said brush element is normally disposed, together with circuit means connecting the respective contacts to the respective motors for the primary operation thereof, and means whereby each motor is secondarily energized at reduced power when the other motor is primarily actuated, whereby said conveyor is propelled by the power diierential between said motors in a direction determined by the contact engaged by the brush element and is maintained taut by the resistance of the motor secondarily energized.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of reels and a record conveyor wound thereon, of a motor connected with each of said reels for propelling it in a conveyor winding direction, a control member, a member connected with said conveyor to partake of the motion thereof, and motor controlling means comprising brush and commutator elements connected with respective members for relative movement according to the movement either of said control member or said second member, said commutator comprising spaced contacts between which said brush element is normally disposed, together with circuit means connecting the respective contacts to the respective motors for the primary operation thereof, and means whereby each motor is secondarily energized at reduced power when the other motor is primarily actuated, whereby said conveyor is propelled by the power differential between said motors in a direction determined by the contact engaged by the brush element and is maintained taut by the resistance of the motor secondarily energized, and means for limiting the tension of said conveyor, said means comprising mechanism for transmitting unwinding motion from the winding reel to the reel connected With the motor secondarily energized.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of supporting members and a web operable thereover and between said.

'13 membera'of electrica-ily energized webfactuati-ng means, and Icontrol mechanism vtherefor including 'a control member adjustable to-an -i-nnite Anum-ber of positions in a predetermined range, a

member movable in accordance with the movement of the web, brush and commutator elements connected to the 'respective members "for relative movement in accordance w-ith the movemerit o'f either member, said commutator `element comprising spaced contacts, one of which Vis short and the other isa longer ycontact insulated 'from `the shorter contact, electrical circuit means 'connecting the respective contacts Aand the brush `element in operative vcircuit with said web actu- "ating means, said circuit means including in 'series between the longer `and the 'shorter `contacts a resistance forcausing said web lactuating means to -functi'on at lOWspeed, the brush "being connected with vone side of a `current `supply and the longer contact lmeans being .connected throughthe web 'actuatingimeans with 'the other side of the .current supply.

14. A web. control system comprising 'the `cornbin'ation with a web 'and a pair `of rotatable supports therefor, of remote 'control means `for controlling the Aweb position and for 'advancing it selectively toward either of said supports `and to any desired extent, said remote control means lcomprising a manually operable control member mounted 'for continuous movement to any one of an infinite number of positions within a predetermined range, a member connected to receive motion in accordancewith the rate andv extent of web movement, whereby its position will always bea function lofthe 'position of said web, brush i and commutator elements connected to the respective members and positioned 'for relative interaction in accordance with the movement oi said members, saidfcommutator `element 'coin- `prising spaced contacts between which the Vbrush element is normally disposed, reversible driving "connections for the web having reversing contacts connected with the spaced contacts of the commutator element, at least one auxiliary contact connected with the commutator element 'for movement therewith, said brush element comprising means engageable with the auxiliary ycontact .in approaching and leaving its normal position 'betweenthe spaced contacts fiirst'mentioned, means in operative electrical connection with the said 'auxiliary contact for retarding the speed of web operation when the auxiliary contact is `engaged by said brush means, the electrical convancing said web selectively toward either of` said supports and to any desired extent, said remote control means comprising a ymanually operable control member mounted `for continuous movement to any one o-f an infinite number of positions withina predetermined range, a member connected to receive motion in accordance with the rate and extent of web movement, brush and commutator felements connected to the respective members and positioned for relative interaction vin accordanceuwtih the :movement of said members, said commutator element comprising spaced lcontacts between which the brush element is normally disposed, reversible driving means for lthe web having reversing contacts connected with the spaced contacts of the commutator element, auxiliary contacts connected with the commutator element for movement therewith, said brush element comprising means engageable alternatively with one-of the auxiliary contacts in approaching and leaving in either direction its normal position between the spaced contacts rst mentioned, means vin operative` electrical connection with the auxiliary contacts for retarding the speed of web operation when said auxiliary contacts are engaged `by said brush means, the electrical connections being such that the direction of web operation in all cases -of brush engagement with the respective contacts is such as to move the web and its associated member toward a position of relocating the-brush between 'the 'spaced contacts first mentioned engagement of the brush means with one of the auxiliary contacts being'adapted'to causethe lweb to follow at low speed the continued 'manualdisplacement of said Acontrol member throughout any range of control membermovement in 'which the brush 'means remainsin engagement with an auxiliary contact.

16. A web control system comprising the combination with a control member mounted for movement in each of opposite directions, of remote control meansl -for said member comprising a manually operable control part mounted 4for continuous movement to any one of an` innite 'number of positions within a predetermined range fcorresponding to a range through Vwhich said memberis operable, a second part connected to receive `motion in accordance with the rate and extent of movement of said member, `brush land commutator elements connected to the respective .parts and positioned for relative interaction in accordance with themovem-ent of said parts, said co-mmutator `element comprising yspaced low lspeed segments between which the brush lelement is normally disposed and .high

speedsegments Ibeyond the respective low speed segments vfrom said normal brush position, reversible driving connections `for the member,

lsaid connectionshaving reversing contacts connected with the high speed contact segments of `the commutator elements, resistance meansfconnecting said high speed segments with the respective spaced 'segments 'rst mentioned, whereby engagement of the brush element witheither `of the segments first `mentioned lwill operate said driving meansat low speed inone of its directions yof movement, said brush element contacting-one ofthe segments rst mentioned and the electrical connections lbeing `such that the direction `of-operation'of said member inall `cases of lbrush engagement with one of the respective contact vsegments issuchas to move the said memberiand `its associatedpart toward a position in which rthe `lorush will be relocated'between'the spaced `co-nlta'ct segments .iirst mentioned; engagement of 'the brush element with one ofthe said contact segments rst mentioned in the course vof :movement of the brush element `from its r4said position being adapted to cause said part `to `follow .atlow .speed tthe ycontinued manual displacement of the control throughout any range of control partmovement in -which the. brush-element remains in engagement with one of said rst menritioned contact y segments.

`afianzar A15 17. In a device of the character described-the combination with a record-bearing web and rotatable supports therefor between which said yweb is movable in opposite directions, said web carrying records so mounted thereon that at least a portion of each such record is visible, of means providing a display station past which said web is operable between said supports, reversible high and low speed driving means for said web', said means being in operative connection with at least one of said supports and the low speed driving means being adapted to actuate said web at a speed suciently low to enable the visible portions of records carried thereby to be scanned at said station, and control mechanism for said driving means for selectively actuating said web to expose a selected portion thereof at said stae tion or to maintain any desired portion of said web in continuous low speed motion at scanning speeds past said station.

18. In a device for selectively propelling records by power at legible scanning speeds past an inspection station or, alternatively, for propelling such records to register a selected record automatically with such inspection station, the combination with a cabinet providing an inspection station and having internally a plurality of roe tatable supports for a record-web, certain of said supports being arranged to guide said web for movement past said station, and a web mounted on said supports for movement past said station in either direction of movement longitudinally of said web, said web carrying records at least partially legible thereon during web movement, of high and low speed reversible operating connections to one of said supports for the actuation of the web, the low speed operating con- Ynections being adapted to actuate the web at scanning speeds past said station so that portions of the records on said web may be read by an operator with the web in motion, and control mechanism for said actuating connections comprising a commutator member mounted for relative movement, a brush member provided with brush means, means providing a driving connection between one of said members and one of the web supports, high speed segments mounted on the commutator member in spaced relation, said brush means normally lying between said segments, low speed segments lying immediately at either side of the normal brush position aforesaid, said brush means being engageable with the several segments when said brush member is displaced relatively to said commutator member, the low speed segments being of relatively limited extent as compared with the high speed segments whereby to be engaged by said brush means only adjacent the aforesaid normal position of the brush means between said segments, a manually operable control part connected to the member other than that to which said belt support is connected, and an index with respect to which said manually operable control part is adjustable infinitely throughout a range of movement corresponding to the range of movement of the web, an electrical supply connection to said brush means, another electrical supply connection to the high and low speed operating means, electrical connections from the respective high speed segments to said operating means for the forward and reverse actuation thereof according to which segment is energized by contact of the brush means therewith, and electrical connections from the respective low speed segments to the low speed operating means for the forward and reverse operation thereof according to which segment is energized by contact of the brush means therewith, the direction of driving relation between the high and low speed operating means and the web being such that the web, when driven by such operating means, will always move in a direction to move the member connected with the web support toward a position to reregister the brush member between the several segments of the commutator member, whereby the web will follow said manually operable part toward a position corresponding to the position to which said part is moved and will operate at high speed when said brush means clears the slow speed segments and is engaged solely with one of the high speed segments, and will operate at low scanning speed when said brush means is engaged with one of the low speed segments and will stop automatically when said part is at rest and the brush means is centered between said segments, and will continue in motion indefinitely throughout its range at scanning speeds so long as said part is manually operated continuously at a rate such as to maintain one of the low speed segments in contact with said brush means.

19. In an authorizer of the character described, a iiexible belt adapted to operate over a pulley and comprising substantially throughout its length narrow strips extending transversely o1' the belt and having proximate edges whereby to provide a nearly continuous surface in which the face of each strip is ush with the faces of contiguous strips, and means detachably mounting said strips at their ends, said mounting means being hingedly connected with each other to comprise said belt.

20. The belt dened in claim 19, in which the mounting means comprises hooked and apertured ttings disposed at the ends of the respective strips and individually connected to respective strips, the hook of each such fitting being engagedv in the aperture of the fitting of an adjacent strip.

21. The belt set forth in claim 19, in which the mounting means comprises a series of like sheets having interlocking slit and tongue portions, said sheets being mutually lapped and respectively provided with marginal pockets in which the ends of the strips aforesaid are engaged.

22. The device of claim 19, in which the mounting means comprises a web underlying a series of strips and provided near the margins of the belt with pocket means in which the ends of each of several strips are accommodated.

23. The belt set forth in claim 19, in which the mounting means comprises a series of sheets having interlocking tongue portions, said sheets being connected together in mutually lapped relation and provided along the sides of the belt with pocket portions substantially continuous along the belt, each such pocket portion being adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of said strips and the continuity of the pocket portions being such that the said strips are in substantially continuous series over the lapped sheets.

24. The belt set forth in claim 19, in which a signal spans one of said strips and has portions extending between the margin of the spanned strip and the strips contiguous thereto, said signal being slidably adjustable along the spanned strip.

JEROME L. CLOUGH.

(References on following Deze),

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thel le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,723 Grimes July 29, 1884 556,136 Daly Mar. 10, 1896 1,065,337 Borroughs June 24, 1913 Number 

